Resumes of the artists

ALEKSANDER REWIŃSKI

Aleksander Rewiński is a Polish tenor born in Warsaw. In 2016 he graduated his Voice studies at the Frédéric Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and in 2018 Song and Oratorio Master Studies at Mozarteum University in Salzburg.

His interest in early music explains the focus of his repertoire in baroque music, especially the works by Bach and Händel, Repertoire of European Classicism (Mozart, Haydn, Salieri) complemented by the German Lieder of the Romantic period by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Wolf, French chansons of Debussy, Ravel, Duparc, Poulenc and Hahn, topped off with music of the 20th century by Szymanowski and Britten.

The greater part of his stage experience he collected in Austria.

Since he started his studies at the Mozarteum University in 2015, he starred in the studio productions in the roles of Arnalta in Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea, as L’Aumônier in Poulenc’s Les Dialogues des Carmelites, as Micuccio Fabri in Trojahn’s Limonen aus Sizilie, as Orlando in Haydn ́s Orlando Palladino and as Lysander in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

In 2017 he performed in the production of Teatro alla Scala as one of the Lehrbuben in Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, conducted by Danielle Gatti and directed by Harry Kupfer. In the same year he debuted in Kammeroper Theater an der Wien, as Lieutenant in La Scuola de’ Gelosi by Antonio Salieri, conducted by Stefan Gottfried and directed by Jean Renshaw.

He debuted in Poland in Warsaw Chamber Opera, as Renaud, in Jean-Baptiste Lully’s Armide, Polish premiere conducted by Benjamin Bayl, directed by Deda Cristina Colonna . The same year he performed the role of Balaam in the world- premiere of Anton Rubinstein’s opera Moses, conducted by Michail Jurovsky.

His successful concerts led Aleksander from Poland, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Luxemburg, Belgium and the Netherlands up to Great Britain.

ALŽBĚTA VLČKOVÁ

Alžběta Vlčková graduated from the Prague Conservatory in class of J. Páleníček, and at the Musical Faculty of the Academy of Perorming Arts in Prague in classe of Prof. M. Petráš. In 1992, she became the finalist in the International Violoncello Competition Beethoven‘s Hradec. In 1994 she won the second prize in the International B. Martinů competition in Semmering (Austria). She participated in international master classes held by A. May, Z. Nelsova, St. Apolín, T. Kühne and studied with Prof. Roland Pidoux during her half-year stay at the Conservatoire Nationale Superier in Paris. She is a member of ArteMiss Trio. She is a leader of the cello section in Prague chamber orchestra. She often cooperates with orchestras as a soloist or chamber music player. She is a professor on the New York University in Prague.

ANIKÓ SZOKODY

Anikó Szokody is a native of Hungary and holds a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Indiana University, having studied with György Sebők, a Piano Artist Degree from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest as well as a Teachers Diploma. She also earned an Artist Diploma from the Conservatorio Beethoven in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she studied with Pia Sebastiani.

As an active international soloist and chamber musician, she regularly appears on Hungarian Television and Radio and can be heard on WMHT and Vermont Public Radio. Hungarian Public Television has produced a documentary on her professional career, which has been aired in Hungary and throughout Europe.

Additionally, Anikó has also performed as soloist with the Budapest Strings, the Orchestra de Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Chautauqua Festival Wind Orchestra and has concertized in Italy, Poland, Austria, Germany, Argentina, China, Qatar and throughout the United States. She has performed in such places as the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Zankel Hall in Skidmore College, Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, Brunswick Castle Concert Hall, Franz Liszt Academy Concert Hall, Old Franz Liszt Academy Concert Hall, Kodály Institute Concert Hall, to name but a few. She has also had the distinguished honor of presenting a special performance for Árpád Göncz, President of Hungary at the Consulate in Buenos Aires, as well as playing for guests from the White House at an event organized by the Hungarian American Coalition in Washington D.C.

Her recent performances in New York have included collaborations with the Adirondack Ensemble, Capital Chamber Artists, Upper Hudson Musical Arts, Luzerne Chamber Players and the Saratoga Chamber players. Anikó is a regular performer on the Luzerne Faculty Concert Series and the Luzerne Chamber Music Festival.

Ms. Szokody was Associate Instructor of Piano at Indiana University, served as studio pianist for cellist Janos Starker and has been on the faculty of Chautauqua Institution, New York from 1999-2006. While in the United States, she was on the faculty of Union College as well and maintained a successful private studio. Her students were regular top prize winners at piano competitions and continue their studies at the Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Bowdoin and Indiana University School of Music.

Having moved to Hungary in the Fall of 2011, Ms. Szokody joined the piano faculty of the University of Szeged. In 2012 she was also invited to join the faculty of the Conservatory of Szeged, where she enjoyed a very active teaching schedule, while continuing to concertize worldwide. Anikó is on the faculty of Luzerne Music Center, New York during the summers since 2007, where she is the Piano Department Chair.

Her biographical synopsis can be found in the Dictionary of International Biography, Cambridge, England as well as in Marquis Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in American Education publications. She has recently received the 2018 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

BIANKA SZAUER

Bianka Szauer was born in 2004. She studied harp at Király-König Péter Music School in Szeged with Natalia Gorbunova. She had started her music studies during her nursery school when she was only five years old.

She won her first competition at the age of six, so at that time she had been playing the harp only for one year. From this moment she has taken part in several national and international competitions, among these the most remarkable one is the ’National Harp Competition’ – which is organized every three years – where she received gold qualification ( in 2012,2015 and 2018, this year in music chamber category as well). In April 2014 she won the first place at the fifth ’Antonio Salieri International Classical Music Competition’ in Italy, and one year later in April 2015, in Zagreb she reached the second position at the ’International Harp Competition’. In 2016 and 2017 she won gold qualification in Slovenia.

She was marching towards the final of ’Virtuosi’, the first Hungarian classical music talent TV show started in the summer of 2014 – in her category she was among the first three competitors and she was enriched with the special award of ’ Miskolc Bartók Plus Opera Festival’ as well. ’Bartók Plus Opera Festival’ has called upon her every year since that time. In December 2015 she was invited to Moscow for the ’Nutcracker’ Classical Competition -where she was among the first 16 best competitors based on a video recording. She represented our country there as the only Hungarian participant.

In 2017 she was admitted to Liszt Academy of Music in the class of ’Extraordinary Talents’.

ISTVÁN BENEDEKFI

Istvan Benedekfi began his studies in 1995 at the Bela Bartok School of Arts in Bekescsaba, Hungary. In 1998 and 2001 he won 2nd prizes at the Schools of Music National Piano Competition. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Szeged (2002-2007) where he received his master’s degree in performance and teaching with summa cum laude distinction. During this time he received first prizes at the Sergey Rachmaninoff (2003) and the Bela Bartok (2005) piano competitions in Debrecen, Hungary. He also received special prizes at the 1st and 2nd Bela Bartok International Piano Competition in Szeged, Hungary (2004, 2006). He was selected to perform in master classes by Endre Hegedus, Ferenc Rados, Andras Schiff, Volkmar Lehmann, and Peter Florian. Istvan was pursuing the Artist Diploma degree at Ball State University, IN, USA, where he was a student of Dr. Robert Palmer.

Istvan Benedekfi is engaged in composing as well. His composition won the special prize at the 1st Bela Bartok Composer’s Competition in Budapest in 2001.

His most significant work to this point is the movie score of Dung Dot (Don’t burn it), a Vietnamese drama which he composed with his brother. The music won the public’s award at the 19th Fukuoka International Film Festival and also was in the Oscar Awards competition in 2010, in the category of Best Foreign Language Film.

JAKUB ČERNOHORSKÝ

Jakub Cernohorsky continued his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under the leadership of prof. Petr Messiereur (1994-1998). He completed his musical education at the Toho School of Music in Toyama, Japan.

He is a laureate of the International Competition Beethoven Hradec in violin performance (1991) and string quartet (1993). He won a prestigious Joseph Gingold Award at the Kent Blossom Music Festival in the USA for his exceptional artistry of violin performance. Between 1998 and 2004 he was active as a violin teacher at the Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava. He has been an artistic leader of the Janáček Chamber Orchestra since 2005. He has been a concertmaster of the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava since 2007. As a soloist and excellent chamber music performer he got numerous invitations to take part at significant festivals and other cultural events. He regularly collaborates with the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, the Saint Gellért Orchestra Szeged, the Ensemble Berlin Prague, the St. Wenceslas Festival Ensemble, the Pavel Haas Quartet, and Jiří Vodička etc.

FELIX MISCHITZ

Felix Mischitz was born in 1992 in Carinthia (Austria) and received his basic musical education at the Regensburger Domspatzen, where he has performed with ensembles such as the L’Orfeo Barock Orchester and the Akademie für Alte Musik, as well as with conductors such as Ivor Bolton or Enoch zu Guttenberg, and as a special prize winner of the Competition “Jugend musiziert” (category singing) excelled. In his final year at school he received a scholarship from the Richard Wagner Association Regensburg.

His bachelor’s degree at the Mozarteum University graduated with distinction last fall. After several parts as a guest in opera school productions of the Mozarteum University (including Frank in Strauss “Die Fledermaus”), he has been a master student of the opera class under the direction of Karoline Gruber and the musical direction of Kai Röhrig since the winter semester of 2017/2018, where he had a great success in the role of Bottom in a production of Britten’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ last June. He singing teacher at Mozarteum is Bernd Valentin. In addition, he received and receives important impulses from Ingrid Kremling-Domanski, Marga Schiml, Elisabeth Wilke and Wolfgang Holzmair.

His concert repertoire ranges from the passions, oratorios and cantatas of J.S. Bach and his contemporaries over oratorios of the classical and romantic to the works of contemporary composers. He regularly performs with the Salzburger Hofmusik (Wolfgang Brunner). His love of song singing, especially the songs of Schubert, Schumann, Wolf and Mahler, he maintains together with the pianists Wolfgang Brunner, Almira Kreimel, Christoph Declara and Yukie Yamazaki. With the latter, he won third prize at the chamber music competition “Fortepiano plus” 2017 at Schloss Kremsegg (Upper Austria).

FERENC SZECSŐDI

Ferenc Szecsődi was born in Budapest in 1954. He studied at the Bartók Béla Conservatory as a student of István Bodonyi, and at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music with Mihály Szűcs. During his time he won the Grand Prize of the Music Academy.

His teaching career began in 1977 at the Liszt Ferenc College of Music in Szeged. Many of his students pursue a successful career as virtuoso violinists, giving concerts or teaching in Hungary and abroad. In the year of 2000, as recognition of his educational excellence he attained the title of university professor with habilitation.

He became an international soloist in 1984, when he received the much sought-after Grand Prize of the Cziffra Grant. Since that time, he is a welcomed artist in the concert halls of many large European cities, such as: Vienna, Bologna, Madrid, Paris, Zürich and Kiev to name a few. Ferenc Szecsődi plays an important role in Hungarian music life and many composers, for example: Zsolt Durkó, Pál Rózsa, Miklós Kocsár and Lajos Huszár have dedicated their solo pieces to him.

In1992 Ferenc Szecsődi was elected “the best performing artist of the year” and the following year (1993) he was awarded the Liszt Prize. As acknowledgment of his pedagogic activity, he was given the Weiner Prize in 1996. Since 2005, he has been the President of the Jenő Hubay Society. In 2009 he was honoured with the highest state award for artists in Hungary.

His important recordings include a wide range of classical Hungarian violin literature. His record entitled “The Great Hungarian Violin School”, was commended by lovers of violin music as well as the critics, who acclaimed his “brilliant technical ability and exuberant musicality” (Új Magyarország), or praised the “Hungarian Paganini’s temperamental playing” (Zürichersee Zeitung). The 13 CD-volume edition of Jenő Hubay’s Works for Violin and Piano (released by Hungaroton Classic) has been acclaimed by the specialized press both in Hungary and abroad. “The Secret of the World Famous Hubay Violin School” is the title of Szecsődi Ferenc’s successful lecture with which he took part in several conferences in Hungary and abroad, including Bern in Switzerland in 2008.

ISTVÁN PÁL

István Pál, better known as “Szalonna” (Bacon), is one of the most popular Hungarian folk musicians and band leaders. He has been leading violinist of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, and also has contributed to the performance of several different formations of folk and world music. He is regularly invited as guest performer by the renown CimbaliBand that is under the direction of Balázs Unger cimbalom player.

Together with fellow musicians from the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble he has formed a band, called Szalonna and His Band that performs a wide variety of folk tunes originating from the Carpathian regions. Their leading vocalist is the eMeRTon prize winner Ágnes Herczku. Together they have performed all over the world, including Europe, America and also Asia. In 2006 István Pál “Szalonna” received the the Artisjus prize in the category of the “Year’s Performer”. He has played together with other prestigious folk and jazz performers, like Róbert Lakatos, Balázs Vizeli, Kálmán Balogh, Róbert Doór, László Mester, Ágnes Herczku, Éva Korpás, Miklós Both and Mihály Dresch. István Pál, “Bacon” is a highly popular musician, who offers authentic representations of the rich and diverse musical life of the Carpathian Basin.

KYUNG RAN PARK

Violist Kyung Ran Park was born in South Korea and pursued musical studies at the Sunhwa Arts School and Yonsei University. Since 2016, she has continued her studies with William Coleman at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg.

Ms. Park won first prize in several competitions, e.g. International Youth Music Competition, Seoul Orchestra Music Competition, Arts Music Newspaper National Student Music Competition, National Student Music Scholarship Competition, and Guri Philharmonic Orchestra National Competition.

She has been participant of many festivals including Sejong International Music Festival (Lenfest hall at Curtis Institute), Academie Internationale de Courchevel, Mattheiser Bad Sobernheim International Masterclasses-and Concertfestival, and Académie Musicale de Morges.

LAURA VARGA

Laura Varga was born in Szeged, Hungary. She started her musical education in Szeged and received her performing artist and teacher degree at the Liszt Music Academy location at University of Debrecen, as a student of István Matuz in 2000. During her studies Ms. Varga earned numerous national awards and prizes and also received First Prize at the International Flute Competition at Timisoara, Romania in 1998.

Laura Varga began her professional musical career with the Salieri Chamber Orchestra and then with the Orchestra of the Szeged National Theater under the guidance of conductor Tamás Pál. While with The Szeged National Theater orchestra, she played in many of Europe’s famous Theatres and venues as well as performing on numerous commercial CD recordings.

In 2000, Ms. Varga became Principal Flutist of the China Philharmonic Orchestra. During her years with this orchestra she had played not only throughout China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shengzhen) but internationally, in concert halls from the United States to Taiwan. While with the China Philharmonic she performed with well-known artists like Placido Domingo, Klaus Weise, Yu Long, Donald Portnoy, Krisztof Pendereczky to name a few, giving her valuable experience on international stage. The Orchestra has also made a CD with Deutsche Grammophone and numerous Television performances.

In 2002, Ms. Varga was invited to return to her home town in Hungary to teach at the University of Szeged – Faculty of Music. She was appointed docent in 2007 and is now Head of the woodwind department.

She earned her Doctorate degree in 2007 at The Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest.

In 2008, Laura Varga received Artisjus Prize for the high level interpretation of contemporary music.

As a frequent solo performer, Ms. Varga also plays with different chamber music groups. Her repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary music. Amongst the numerous events she attends every year she plays at the Spring Festival and Autumn Cultural Festival of the University of Szeged, the István Vántus Contemporary Music Festival, Summer Music Academy, and at the Alma Mater Classic Concerts. Her performances are often broadcast on Hungarian television.

In 2014, together with Lívia Vizsolyi (bassoonist) and György Klebniczki (pianist) she formed the Trio called Szeged Classic Trio and recorded their first album as the result of their wide repertoire and long list of live performances. Since then, they have also participated in the recording of the album of composer György Klebniczki (Lavender, 2016). Her solo albums were released in 2016 and 2017.

In 2014 she earned the Town of Szeged prize as a Performing Artist, and the Acknowledgement of the Rector of the University of Szeged.

In 2017 she reveived Kölcsey Prize on the Day of Hungarian Culture.

As well as a frequent international performer, Dr. Laura Varga is a dedicated teacher. All her students whom have graduated from the University of Szeged- Faculty of Music have continued on with their musical careers. Her master courses were held at the Conservatory of Bolzano, Italy, in April 2015 and then in November in Oradea, Romania.

In February 2017 she hold masterclass in the College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York and also played Hidas Concerto with their wind orchestra. The same year she gave concerts and held masterclasses in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, China.

In 2018 she gave masterclass and concert together with pianist Zsuzsanna Császár in Malaga, Spain. She returned for her 14th season teaching at the Summer Music Academy at Szeged, Hungary.

MARIA HEGELE

Maria Hegele started her bachelor’s degree at the University Mozarteum Salzburg in 2012 as a voice student of Prof. Barbara Bonney.

In the course of her studies she worked with Prof. Hanna Schwarz, Angelika Luz and Prof. Wolfgang Holzmair, and has taken part in benefit concerts and master classes at the University Mozarteum Salzburg.

In 2014 she was granted a scholarship from the Mozarteum to help further her studies. Since July 2015 she is the grantee of the Walter and Charlotte Hamel Foundation in Hannover and she has given numerous song recitals in southern Germany. She also received a grant from the Summer Academy (Salzburg) to participate in a master class with Angelika Kirchschlager and Brigitte Fassbaender.

In 2016 she completed her bachelor’s degree with honours and in the fall 2016, she began her master’s degree in opera, studying with Kai Röhrig (music)/Karoline Gruber (staging) at the Mozarteum.

Her stage performances include Mercedes in the Mozarteum’s production of Bizet’s “Carmen”, the role of the “Servant” in the world premiere of Thomas Adès’ “The Exterminating Angel” at the Salzburg Festival, and she was involved in the production “Gesualdo” at the Salzburger State Theatre. She played the role of “Cherubino” in the production of the University Mozarteum. From September until December she was an Erasmus participant for the autumn term at the Royal College of Music London with Prof. Dinah Harris. In February 2018 she was a finalist in the 13th International Mozart Competition Salzburg.

MARIYA TANIGUCHI

Mariya Taniguchi (soprano) was born in Japan on 26 May 1993. In 2016 she completed her bachelor´s degree at The International University of Kagoshima and studied in Uwe Heilmann´s singing class. In March 2011 she sang the Japanese national anthem at the Spring Baseball for high school students. Since October 2016 she is in the Master of Opera and Music Theater program at the University Mozarteum Salzburg as a student of Karoline Gruber and Kai Röhrig, and as a voice student of Barbara Bonney.

MARTIN SOKOL

Martin Sokol started his studies at the Košice Conservatory with Professor Milan Hubner. After graduating from Košice he went to the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno where he studied under the direction of Zuzana Rzounková. During his studies he has successfully participated in many competitions. He was the first horn player of the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra Olomouc and is currently the first horn player of the Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK). He is often invited to other orchestras and has concerts in the Czech Republic as well as abroad.

MICHAELA ŠPAČKOVÁ

Michaela Špačková (bassoon) was born in Prague in 1993. She graduated from the Prague Conservatory, from High School, and from the Gymnasium and Music School of the City of Prague. She is currently studying at the Hanns Eisler University of Music in Berlin under ProfessorVolker Tessmann.

She has won numerous awards from national and international competitions including Prague Spring, the Carl Maria von Weber Competition, Circolo Cameristico Piemontese, “Città di Chieri”, Concertino Praga, Intermusica Birkfeld and others.

Her solo debut was at the age of seventeen when she appeared with PKF – Prague Philharmonia. This was followed by performances with orchestras such as the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague FOK, ORF Wien – the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Opole Philharmonic Orchestra and others.

She was a member of the Orchestral Academy of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, PKF – Prague Philharmonia and the EUYO – European Union Youth Orchestra.
She cooperates with pianist Lukáš Klánský and harpsichordist Daniel Trumbull. She is a member of the ‘Fagotiky’ Girl’s Bassoon Quartet and several chamber ensembles in Berlin. Every year he performs at the Fränkische Musiktage festival with renowned European musicians and in other festivals across Europe.

RENÁTA HORÁK

Renáta Horák was born in the village of Bácskossuthfalva in Vojvodina, Serbia in 1985. She studied at the University of Szeged, Faculty of Music with István Andrejcsik. During her studies she took part in master courses led by Éva Marton, Mária Temesi, Sylvia Sass and Ionel Panthea. After earning her classical singing and teacher’s degree in 2010 she became a member of the Szeged National Theatre. Her stage performances include the role of Tatyana in “Eugene Onegin”(Tchaikovsky), Clorinda in “La Cenerentola” (Rossini), Valencienne in “The Merry Widow” (F. Lehár), Adina in “L’elisir d’amore” (Donizetti) and Ines in “Il trovatore (Verdi). In 2008 she took part in the Simándy József International Singing Competition in Szeged where she won the second prize in her category. In this season the theatre’s audience can see her as Saffí in “Saffi“ (a play with music from “The Gypsy Baron” by Johann Strauss) and Susanna in “The Marriage of Figaro” (Mozart)

SHUN OI

Shun Oi is a japanese pianist and conductor, Shun Oi (大井駿) was born in 1993. He began taking piano lessons at the age of four with Sonoko Hayashi, and also he took lessons by Akiyoshi Sako and Jacques Rouvier. Shun Oi studied piano with Jean-Marie Cottet, and chamber music with Pascal Le Corre in Paris, and graduated from Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Paris (CRR de Paris) with top honors in 2014. Also he got a diploma of “Corso di Alta Formazione” for piano, from Conservatorio di musica Agostino Sttefani in Castelfranco Veneto, where he studied with Massimiliano Ferrati. While studying piano with Andreas Groethuysen at University Mozarteam in Salzburg, he is also majoring in conducting with Bruno Weil, Alexander Drčar, Yoon Kuk Lee, Johannes Kalitzke (contemporary music), and Reinhard Goebel (Barock music) at present. Until now he has participated several masterclasses with Menahem Pressler, Ferenc Rados, Alexander Koblin, and Peter Gülke. He is now a scholarship student of Yamaha Music Foundation from 2018.

He is laureate of several competitions: Yokohama International Competition, Sengawa Piano Audition, etc. His repertoire range is from Bach to new music, he was invited to perform the concert of contemporary music, organised by Ensemble Alternance in Paris. Also he performed many premiers of new pieces, which are composed by young composers. Shun Oi gives concerts as a pianist in major cities, such as in Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Rome and Tokyo. In 2014, he was chosen to perform with La Musique des Gardiens de la Paix de Paris (brass band of police in Paris), and in 2016, he played and conducted Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 with Bad Reichenhaller Philharmonie in Germany. He has conducted several orchestras such as ÖENM (Österreich Ensemble für Neue Musik), Orchestra of Universität Mozarteum, and Bad Reichenhaller Philharmonie. He recently conducted Mozart’s orchestral work in Mozartwoche (International Mozart Week in Salzburg).

SZABOLCS SZAMOSI

As a highly energetic musician, Szabolcs Szamosi’s performances from the beginning of his career have been characterised by original musical peculiarities manifested by innovative improvisational methods and by pairing the organ with novel and unusual ways with other musical instruments. In the course of his concerts Szamosi has already accomplished innumerable exciting projects. The most outstanding ones include three unique concert series that have embraced and accommodated a variety of different musical styles. In the field of jazz music with its characteristic instrument the saxophone, together with László Dés, they have performed nationwide. With Márta Sebestyén they have given a popular concert series that amalgamated the motives of sacred and folk music. Together with the Norwegian mouth-organist Sigmund Groven, Szamosi has also dreamt of and realised a unique spatial sound system that exhibits a bold use of the different tones and colours of the organ. The improvisation style of Szabolcs Szamosi relies on musical talent, impulsive energy, confident technique and a wide range of emotions.

SZILVESZTER SZÉLPÁL

Szilveszter Szélpál was born in Szeged, Hungary in 1984. He completed his secondary studies at Ságváry Endre Secondary Grammar School and as an outstanding student he was awarded the school’s medallion. At the University of Szeged, Faculty of Science and Informatics he earned his physics degree in 2009 and then Physics and Education Master’s degree in 2013. At the same time he continued his studies in the field of music, earning his Classical Singing BA degree at the University of Szeged, Faculty of Music in 2012.

Szilveszter Szélpál practices both the teaching and artistic vocation actively as being a member of the Szeged National Theatre, and a physics teacher at the Practice Secondary Grammar and Primary School of the University of Szeged.

He started his classical singing studies in 2001 at Király-König Péter Music School in Szeged where he studied with Szél Pálné and István Andrejcsik. At the Music Faculty of The University of Szeged he studied with Dr Mária Temesi and István Andrejcsik. During his studies he took part in master courses led by Adrienne Csengery, Krisztina Laki, Éva Marton, Magda Nádor, and László Kéringer.

Szilveszter Szélpál has participated in a number of singing competitions successfully. In 2006 he was a finalist and special prize winner of Simándy József Singing Competition in Szeged. During the same year he took part in two other competitions in Hungary earning the second place in Varga László Singing Competition in Orosháza and being awarded special prize in Székely Mihály Singing Competition in Jászberény. In December 2007 he won the first prize in the Music Competition of the University of Szeged.

He has been singing in the productions of the Szeged National Theatre and the Szeged Open-Air Festival as a regular member of the choir since 2002. He has been an opera singer and soloist of the Szeged National Theatre since 2009. He is regularly invited to guest appearances in Hungary and other countries. He has already performed on stage in Budapest, Miskolc, Szombathely, as well as London, Avignon, Mexico City and Jersey.

In 2015 he performed the role of Papageno in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”, directed by Róbert Alföldi, and the production won the first prize in Armel Opera Festival. In the summer of 2017 he sang the baritone solo in Orff’s “Carmina Burana” in the Szeged Open-Air Festival. His operatic roles include Béni in “King Pomádé’s New Clothes” (György Ránki), Dandini in “La Cenerentola” (Rossini), Belcore in “L’elisir d’amore” (Donizetti), Melitone in “La forza del destino” (Verdi), and Figaro in “Il barbiere di Siviglia” (Rossini). He sang the title role in the following operettas: Jenő Huszka’s “Prince Bob”, Ferenc Lehár’s “Der Graf von Luxemburg”, and Pál Ábrahám’s “Ball at the Savoy”.

In 2015 he was awarded the “Best Young Singer of the Year” prize by the Assosiation of Opera Friends of Szeged. In 2016 he won the Dömötör Prize for Best Opera Singer in Szeged.

YUKIKO UNO

Yukiko Uno was born in Japan in 1995. She is one of the most acclaimed young musicians in Japan and has won many prizes in international violin competitions. She won the first prize at the International Violin Competition Andrea Postacchini Competition (2016&2017), Chengdu Guangya Violin Competition (2016), Gifu International Music Festival(2013&2014), Czech Music Competition(2013) and many others.

She entered Tokyo University of the Arts in 2014 and currently she studies at the University Mozarteum Salzburg with Prof. Pierre Amoyal.

She performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Chamber Orchestra of Nagoya, Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana, and the Symphony Orchestra of University Mozarteum. Also as a chamber musician she is very active and plays string quartet and duo with the piano energetically. She gave recitals and concerts in Japan, Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland,Hungary and in Finland.

VRATISLAV VLNA

Vratislav Vlna (1975) studied the oboe at the Prague Conservatory under Professor František Kimel (Solo-Oboist of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra) and at the Prague Academy of Musical Arts under Professor Jiří Mihule (Solo-Oboist of Czech Philharmonic Orchestra).

He has taken part in interpretational classes in Germany (Bonn 1993) and in Switzerland (Vevey 1993) and he was the winner of the international competition Concertino Praga 1992.

Since 1996 he has been the first oboist in the Opera Orchestra of National Theatre in Prague and simultaneously since 1999 he has collaborated as a Solo-Oboist with the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Solistes Européens Luxemburg and with the Virtuosi di Praga.

As a soloist he appears regularly together with the Virtuosi di Praga and the Prague String Orchestra, with the Orchestra of National Theatre, the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra.

WENDY KRIKKEN

Wendy Krikken is a dutch soprano, completed with honours her Master studies “Oper und Musiktheater” at the Mozarteum in Salzburg in June 2018. There she studied with Kai Röhrig (conductor), Karoline Gruber (director) and Ildikó Raimondi (singing teacher). At the Mozarteum she performed the role of Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Britten in June 2018. In January 2018 she performed in a staged performance of Schönberg’s “Pierrot Lunaire”, and a new written opera, “Lob des Schattens” (Praise of the Shadow) by Oscar Jockel, which was sung in Japanese. In May 2017 she performed the role of Susanna in Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro”.

Wendy completed her Bachelor’s degree with honours at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in 2015 where she studied with Lenie van den Heuvel and Frans Fiselier.

Following her Bachelor studies, Wendy Krikken was a member of Dutch National Opera Academy in Amsterdam where she performed the role of Zerlina in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”.

From 1999 to 2011 Wendy Krikken was a member of the Young Theatre School through which she gathered much experience in the realms of musical, theatre and opera. In 2009 she won the Encouragement Prize at the “Prinses Christina Concours” and in 2013 she just missed by a hair getting into the finales at the “Concours Kasteel Doorwerth” competition. She is a sought after soloist by numerous choirs in the Netherlands and has participated in several choir tours abroad.

ZUZANA RZOUNKOVÁ

Zuzana Rzounková is a highly appreciated solo French horn player of the reputable Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK. She belongs with no doubt to the top class musicians. Therefore she is regularly invited to cooperate with many orchestras at home and abroad. Often she is performing with the Luxembourg Orchester European Soloists, in the Czech National Symphony Orchestra she is leading the horn group and is a solo horn player there. She is regularly performing on stages of famous festivals and her performances are highly valuated by the audience and the critics as well. During her career she was performing in several countries in Europe, and also in China, Japan, and South Korea as well as in the USA.

With the same intensity Zuzana Rzounková has been focused on solo and chamber playing. Her active music work includes also teaching, as a professor of the Janáček Academy of Music in Brno, she is highly involved in the education of the new generation of Czech French horn players. Many of her graduates have been playing in the best Czech orchestras.

Very often she is asked to participate in master-classes or to be a jury member of competitions. She is an artistic leader of Summer Horn Courses in Broumov, Czech Republic. Zuzana Rzounková studied at the Conservatory of Košice and after that at Janáček Academy of Music in Brno. During her studies she won many prizes, e.g. the first prize of the International French horn Competition in London (2004) and in the Moravian Autumn Competition the year after. In 2010 she earned her PhD degree at the Janáček Academy of Music in Brno.